Singapore Used-Car Complaints Rose 41%: How to Check Mileage and Protect Your Purchase

A used car’s odometer reading affects how buyers judge its condition and maintenance needs. That makes the increase in Singapore’s pre-owned-car complaints worth examining—but the complaint figures alone cannot show how often mileage was altered or explain the entire rise.6

What the complaints show

The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) received 163 complaints about pre-owned cars from January to August 2026, compared with 116 in the same period of 2025—an increase of 47 complaints, or about 41%. Complaints involving suspected mileage tampering rose from 17 to 22. Buyers also reported repeated breakdowns, warranties that dealers did not honour, and misleading descriptions of vehicle condition.65

These are complaints, not a count of proven odometer alterations. Nor does the increase identify a single cause: mileage allegations account for only part of the broader change.65

Why mileage can be misrepresented—and what evidence looks like

Industry participants told CNA that high-mileage cars can be difficult to sell and that squeezed dealer margins may tempt dishonest sellers to make a vehicle appear less used. Those are possible incentives, not evidence that a particular dealer changed a reading.6

A discrepancy in a car’s history is more useful to a buyer than speculation about motive. CNA reported finding a car advertised with a mileage reading about 37,000 km lower than the reading recorded when it appeared at auction days earlier. The conflicting readings raise an obvious question about the listing; they do not, by themselves, establish who was responsible or how the difference arose.34

An understated reading can also obscure maintenance that may already be due. Mileage-based work, such as replacing certain components or fluids, could appear less urgent, leaving the buyer exposed to unexpected repairs or breakdowns. If the car develops problems, conflicting records may add to a dispute over its condition, maintenance history or warranty promises.36

Checks to make before paying

Ask for dated servicing and inspection records, then compare their mileage entries with the advertised reading. A later document showing a lower reading needs an explanation; missing records limit what can be verified. Get the seller’s claims about mileage, known defects, condition and warranty coverage in writing, and do not rely on the dashboard reading alone.3417

Arrange an independent professional evaluation before committing to the purchase. CASE strongly recommends one, and its SAFE checklist is designed to help buyers and sellers document a pre-owned car’s condition. CASE says an independent evaluator’s findings should take precedence over the dealer’s portion of the checklist.1725

If a problem appears after purchase

Keep the advertisement, sales contract, warranty terms, service history, evaluation report, messages and repair findings. Notify the seller promptly, explain the discrepancy or defect, and retain its response. CASE asks consumers submitting complaints to provide relevant purchase and contract documents.28

Singapore’s Lemon Law can provide remedies—including repair, replacement, a price reduction or cancellation of the contract—for goods that do not conform to the contract. CASE says a defect discovered within six months of delivery is generally presumed to have been present at delivery, subject to the applicable circumstances. Protection depends on the transaction: the Lemon Law applies to consumer purchases from a business, not a direct purchase from another individual.161724

If a business seller will not resolve the dispute, a buyer can seek CASE’s assistance with a consumer-to-business complaint. The strongest starting point is a clear record of what was promised, what the dated mileage evidence shows, and what an independent inspection found.2228